– By Glenn and Darlene Miller
July 3, 2023: As if learning to fly wasn’t enough, I’ve got a red-winged blackbird on my head! Photo by Glenn and Darlene Miller.
Yesterday’s discovery of DH2 was so exciting that we could hardly ask for more. By mid-afternoon it was pretty hot and we didn’t really expect much activity. But you can never be sure when or where the eagles will make an appearance. We spotted one of the parents flying northeasterly from the nest area and over the bridge. It made several lazy circles over the corn field north of N2B before disappearing from sight.
Shortly thereafter, DH2 appeared from the same area, flying in the same direction. She was being pursued by a number of red-winged black birds and she turned right and flew over the area where N2B stands, apparently in an effort to escape them! She circled back over the hatchery and disappeared in the area behind the nest tree for about an hour before reappearing and heading southeast and up to the bluff. She flew amazingly well, easily cleared the heights of the bluff and followed the ridge line only to disappear over the hills south of the hatchery. We were overjoyed to see how well DH2 is progressing and how she is expanding her reach!
July 3, 2023: DH2’s talons aren’t much smaller than the RWB, but it doesn’t stop him from giving her a piece of his mind! Photo by Glenn and Darlene Miller.
Today was very quiet for most of the morning. However, around 11:00 AM, we discovered her in a dead tree at the north end of the bridge. She was being harassed relentlessly by a red-winged black bird, but seemed unfazed by his repeated attempts to get her to leave. We were so fortunate and grateful to get some shots of her in good light. We hope you enjoy them!
~ Darlene and Glenn Miller
Thanks to Darlene and Glenn for sharing DH2’s fledgling adventures with all of us who can’t be down in Decorah! We’ll be holding our fledgling fundraiser on Wednesday, July 5th! Come join our special chat and, if you can, help us keep our streams running and our research and education programs going!
July 3, 2023: It’s so wonderful to see DH2 learning to fly! From Mom and Dad to Mom and DM2 to Hatchery Dad and Hatchery Mom, another chapter is unfolding in the lives of the Decorah Eagles. The story of our eagles – and of all of us! – continues. Photo by Glen and Darlene Miller.
The Raptor Resource Project